"It means a lot," Avila said. "It's a step forward. We've been
trying to look for some sort of hope and we got it today."

Dallas (0-3-1) came in as the only MLS team without a point this
season and appeared headed for a fourth straight loss after
Dwayne De Rosario scored on a header in the 17th minute for
Toronto (1-1-2).

But Ricchetti turned in Avila's cross with a spectacular
backheel, denying Toronto rookie goaltender Stefan Frei his
first MLS shutout.

"It was a tremendous goal by Pablo," Hyndman said. "It was one
of those goals that everything has to be perfectly right. It
caught everybody by surprise."

Ricchetti did not speak to reporters afterward but Avila said
the equalizer sparked an emotional celebration.

"He grabbed me and started yelling as loud as he could in my
face," Avila said. "Just the joy of it was awesome. He scored
it, ran and screamed. We didn't know what to say. We were just
relieved that we got a goal and a point."

Toronto has not won since an opening-week victory at Kansas City
on March 21.

"If you don't finish your chances, the other team comes back and
punishes you," De Rosario said. "We took our foot off the pedal
for parts of the game and let them back in it."

Toronto came close to scoring in the first minute, but De
Rosario couldn't finish Fuad Ibrahim's cross to the far post,
allowing Dallas defender George John to clear the ball off the
line.

De Rosario, though, finished the job on his next opportunity,
heading home Adrian Serioux's long throw into the box to give
Toronto FC the lead.

It was the first goal in a Toronto uniform for De Rosario, a
two-time MLS Cup MVP who was born in this city. The Canadian
joined his hometown team in a December trade with Houston and
missed a penalty in Toronto's season-opening win at Kansas City.

"The first goal is the toughest to get sometimes," De Rosario
said. "I'm glad to get it out of the way."

Serioux's long throws from the sidelines were a constant menace
in the first half.

"My throw-ins go pretty far, almost like a corner kick," Serioux
said. "If I can use that as a threat, then that's what we're
going to do."

Toronto came up empty on two opportunities in the 34th minute.
Midfielder Amado Guevera hit the crossbar with a deflected shot,
and the ball ricocheted to Chad Barrett, whose unmarked header
sailed wide.

"(Barrett) in the last two games had no chances but he was in
position today and worked hard," Toronto coach John Carver said.
"He had one or two chances and just didn't put them away."

Dallas almost tied it before the half when Dax McCarty's header
beat Frei, hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the
goal line.

Dallas came close again in the opening minutes of the second
half, with Cooper's backheel setting up Andre Rocha, who pulled
his shot just wide.